Monday, January 23, 2012

Roseanna White's "Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland"

Cover blurb: In 1784 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton.

Never did Lark think she’d want to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she’s loved all her life. But when he betrays her, she flees to Annapolis, Maryland, the country’s capital. There Lark throws herself into a new circle of friends who force her to examine all she believes.

Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his betrothed. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he realizes that in this new country he has come to call his own, duty is no longer enough. He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater … before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold.

1) How did this story come to you?
In a couple parts, actually. I first got the idea for a story revolving around a betrothed couple who had a falling out of prodigious proportions right after graduating from college. It was nearly five years later that I decided it would be fun to incorporate historic Annapolis into the story by making my heroine flee there. Still, the story just sat on a back burner until Summerside asked if I had any historical ideas set in Maryland for their Love Finds You line.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Well, as already mentioned above, Summerside asked if I had an idea for a Maryland title—this was after a contemporary I’d submitted was penciled into their schedule but then declined because they wanted more historicals. I whipped up a proposal for them in a week, but then went 9 months without hearing anything back—at which point they asked if I could get the full to them round about March. I got to serious work on it in January, and it’s a good thing I did—two weeks later my editor emailed to ask if I could rush it to them because they had a sudden opening. In March I got the call that it had been accepted—and 9 short months later, it hit the shelves!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Apparently quite a few are surprised when they go to Facebook and see that I’m young—only 29. And while I intend to stay 29 for a while, right this moment I’m in my first year of being 29. ;-) Next, I’m not very good about eating my vegetables—which is especially bad because my family owns a produce farm, LOL. And finally, I’m a morning person—I can bounce out of bed at 5, but don’t ask me to put a coherent sentence together after 9 p.m.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
At the moment I’m working on a Civil War era novel set in Savannah, about a whimsical heroine determined to write her perfect romance, and the disillusioned, injured sailor who isn’t so sure he’s up for being her hero anymore. And while I have nothing releasing in 2012, 2013 will be a busy year full of releases for me!

5) Parting comments?In addition to the giveaway here, anyone who comments is also entered into my Great ANNAPOLIS Giveaway, which includes not only a book but a quill and ink set, a leatherbound journal, a Colonial doll, a Colonial mug, and two packs of gourmet hot chocolate. To read about other ways to get more entrees, check out my page on the giveaway at http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/p/great-annapolis-giveaway.html

43 comments:

OOOOOOH!!! I only have 2 of the book in the LFY series, but I LOVE THEM!! I'd love to win this particular book, because it's the kind of story that holds my attention until the very end!! (and I have some family in/from Maryland, too). Because I live in Qc, Canada, getting new books, ENGLISH, CHRISTIAN BOOKS is very, very hard to do. :( Please, please take pity on me!! :)

I love all the LFY books. I have a shelf full of them including some of the new line with song titles. Summerside knows how to pick winning stories. Sorry, but I love vegetables and even learned to like turnip greens after I married a country boy.

As you can see, I'm working next on a Civil War era book that begins on the day the Armistice is made known to a group of Southern prisoners at Pt. Lookout, MD.

How generous of you to also include us in the Annapolis giveaway! Yay! When I lived in Maryland, back before 9/11, I frequently went into the Annapolis Naval Academy to tour around the grounds. It is a beautiful area along the water and being so steeped in history it is a perfect location for your historical novel! I'd be most interested in reading your new book! Thank you for the offers, Dawndaisyflower.adams@gmail.com

Oh, if you toured the Naval Academy, then chances are you also saw my college across the street--St. John's, a little oasis of historical buildings (the central one is from Colonial times and is in my book!) and nose-in-book academia. We fancy ourselves the rivals of the midshipmen--rather laughable, given that the NA is about twenty times our size, LOL.

Historical Fiction is my favorite! I have not ready any of the Love Finds You novels. I am following Roseanna around on this blog tour! I have my eye on the prize(s). A journal and hot chocolate both!! Would love to win this giveaway and read your book!!lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

I love it, Roseanna, that you bounce out of bed at 5am. When I was young, I could do that too! In a few more years your bouncing may end and you still won't put coherent sentences together after 9pm ;)

What an interesting story about how this book came about. I love historical fiction and despite moving around a lot (my husband and I both were Army) both my boys were born in Maryland. I have a lot of fond memories of that area. Thank you so much for the chance to win this book.

So glad you stopped by, Margaret! I've lived in the Maryland/West Virginia area all my life, and it's definitely a beautiful one. And I'm glad the story behind the book was interesting--never sure if those things are only interesting to me, LOL.

Get on the ball, Pegg! ;-) There are some great LFY titles, for sure. I haven't read as many as I wish I had time to read, but those I have were really delightful. I'm very excited to be part of the Sumemrside team!

I know it isn't likely.......you probably haven't included CANADIAN residents in this contest. But I figured I'd give it a shot. You see.....I guess I kind of use this reason as an excuse most of the time, but it's SO TRUE!! I live in Qc, CANADA. Obtaining CHRISTIAN NOVELS - particularly in ENGLISH - is oh-so-hard!! ENGLISH bookstores - ONE in the province (that I've heard of); CHRISTIAN? ONE.......in FRENCH.

I LOVE THESE BOOKS!! I HAVE ONLY READ 2, BUT I'D LOVE TO GET & READ MORE!! Sorry, long comment, huh?

IF I win, you can contact me at:kaymart_1984@hotmail.com, orkendra.lalonde@yahoo.com